Parlor basket-ball game



Nov. 30, 1926.

1,608,721 E. A.- CLARK PARLOR BASKET BALL GAME Filed Feb. 26, 1926 42H93? I W INV TOR.

TTORNEY.

liatented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A.

CLARK, OF SALINE. MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MAX. A.

BLAESS, OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

PARLOR BASKET-BALL GAME.

Application filed February The object of my invention is to produce aparlor game that can be played on a playing board, and according to therules of the well known athletic game of basket ball.

Another object is to produce a parlor game that is interesting andinstructive along the lines of athletics, and is adapted to being playedby children as well as adults.

A further object is to produce a parlor game, adapted to a playingboard, that is simple in construction, easily understood, and can bemanufactured at a low cost.

These several objects are attained in the preferred form by theconstruction and ar 'angement more fully hereinafter set forth.

Similar parts on all drawings are marked by similar numerals.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the playing board showing the generalarrangement of the playing board, and the position of the variousplaying men.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the board showing the guard rail, and therelative position of the playing floor.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of the Fig. 1, showingthe relative position of the various parts of which the board isconstructed.

Fig. d is a side View of the playing ball as is used in the playing ofthe game.

I will now describe more fully the detailed construction of my playingboard and the game played thereon, referring to the drawings and themarks thereon.

In general, my playing board comprises a playing floor of dimension inproportion to the standard basket ball fioor, as is governed by the wellknown athletic rules. The playing floor being supported by an inclos ingframe having cross members, and pro vided with an open space between theframe and the outer edges of the playing floor. Ring baskets areprovided at each end of the playing board, and small holes for receivingthe ball are made through the floor member positioned therein similarlyto the position taken by the members of opposing basket ball teams whenplaying the athletic basket ball game. A small rubber ball suflicientlylarge to prevent it from passing through the floor holes, is used inplaying the game, and according to rules similar to the rules governingthe basket ball game, the ball being first placed in one of the play-26, 1925. Serial No. 90,794.

ing floor holes and shot therefrom from the under side of the board.

The playing board -1- is made of a rigid panel, preferably of a thinwood or fiber board, or of any suitable material not liable to warp,said board 1- being'of dimensions approximately in proportions to theregulation athletic basket ball floor, and which is approximately twicelong as it is wide. Outside the iioor board 1-- is fixedly mounted aguard frame -2-, formed of thin narrow wood strip, forming a rectangularshaped frame, completely surrounding the floor board -land providing anopen space -3- between the edge of the floor and the frame -2-. Thespace 3 is of a width to engage and hold the playing ball 4. if the hallrolls off the floor board l-, yet sufficiently narrow to prevent theball from passing therethrough. Wood cross members -5- are fixedlyattached across the bottom edge of the guard frame -2, near the endsthereof, and provide a rigid support for the playing floor 1 which isfixedly attached thereto, by small nails 6-, or the board -1- may becemented thereon. At each end of the playing floor board -l is linedlymounted a backboard -7. Said backboard -7- is made of some rigidmaterial, preferably similar to the material of which the playing flooris made, and is at tached to the floor by inserting the legs -8 withinmorticed grooves formed through the floor board. The backboards 'Z arepositioned vertically and at right angles to the playing floor board,and each carry mounted thereon a basket ring -lO- which projects awayfrom the backboard 7-, parallel. to the playing floor l-. Throughout theplaying floor 1-- are formed various playing holes -11-, -12-. 13, -14,and -l5---, all. cut through the floor board, and for receiving theplaying ball -4 therein. The playing holes being located therein inpreferred positions of players of opposing teams as in an athleticbasket ball game. All of the holes are beveled around the top, and of asize to receive and retain the playing ball -4- therein but not to allowsaid ball to pass therethrough. Along the centerline of the board -1-are formed three neutral playing holes -11 and -12-, to be used bytermed the free throw holes.

both players. The hole -11 being the center, and the holes -l2 beingplaced one at each end of the board .1., directly in front of the basketrings l0, and are Along the cross center line of the board are placedthetwo side center holes 13, one hole being positioned on each side of thecenter hole 1l. At each end of the board, positioned on opposite sidesof the free throw holes -l2, are the two guard holes 14 and the twoforward holes 15. The playing ball 4- is preferably a soft -rub berball, about one half the diameter of the basket ring -10, and of a sizethat will easily engage the playing holes ren'iain therein when onceentered. All plays be ing made by shooting the playing ball l from thebottom side of the playing board 7 floor -1-, by using the finger, or a.small cue if desired, and striking the playing ball 4- through theplaying hole. For con venience in playing the board may be supportedacross the backs of. two chairs, al-

lowing one player to be on each. sideof the board, or the board may beconstructed with special legs attached at each corner thereof asindicated by the dotted lines 16-. The game is played by two players,although four may play by using partners. Each player stands on oppositesides of the playing board, and has the basket ring to his left. Thetime for playing is predetermined by the players, but preferably onehour, and if players are tied at the end, an extra amount of time isdecided upon by the players and the game continued. One player startsthe game by placing the play ing .ball 4 indie center hole, shootingsame from the underside of the board toward his own basket ring, eitherfor the basket or for a position of advantage near the basket. The threeholes along the ee.n terline, lengthwise of the'playing board, areneutral holes and can be used by either players, and the two holesnearest. the basket are the right and left guards of the opponent, whilethe next two holes adjacent to the op.- ponents guard holes, are theright and left forwards of the player, the side centerhole opposite theplayer belongs to the opponent. If the player, when shooting from thecenter hole succeeds in rolling the ball in either of the forward holesnear his basket, or'in any of the neutral holes, he continues his playin an attempt to make the basket b dropping the ball through the basketring 10, and which counts the player two points. If the player does notroll theball in any of the holes but still remains -.on the playingboard 1., it is a dead ball, and he must return to the center hole andstart over again. If the. player shoots the ball from any hole, and itenters the guard hole of his opponent nearest his own basket ring,

or the forward holes of the opponent at the opposite end of the board,the ball passes touthe opponent who vuien shoots the ball from the holeentered toward his own basket.

If the ball should roll off of the playing board 1-- and withouttouching any of the opponents holes, into the side space 3 it is out ofbounds and passes to the opponent who starts at that point and pro ceedstoward his basket, but if the ball touches the guard hole of theopponent and does not remain therein and rolls off thev board, it is afumble by the opponent t id the player keeps the balland proceeds m thatpoint. If the. ball rolls in the side center oppositethe player it is apersonal foul and the opponent is entitled to two free throws at thebasket. from the neutral hole -l2, and each basket made counts theopponent one point, the opponent keeps the ball and continues the play,starting from the center hole again. If the ball leaves the boardentirely going over the guard flange -2 and on the floor, the opponentis entitled to one free throw at the basket from the neutral hole 12,and the basket if made, counts the opponent one point, the opponentkeeps the ball and continues the play. The game continues until the timeset expires, and the one having the most points is the winner.

Having fully described myparlor basket ball game vwhat I claim as myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A parlor basket ball game, comprising a r ctangular playing heard ofapproximate:

proportions to, the standard athletic basket court, said playingaboardhaving a guard frame mounted thereon, complet ly surrounding the playingboard, and sopositioned'as to provide an open space around the outsideedge of said board, a miniature backboard having a basket ring attachedthereto. and projecting therefrom, fixedly mounted at each end of theboard and on the long .centerline thereof, series of playing iolesformed through the playing board,

said playing holes being positioned thereon to representthe preferredpositions of athletic players'of opposing teams, a playing ball forplaying the game, said ball being of a size to engage the playing holesbut not pass therethrough, yet pass easily through the basket rings, andrules for playing the game similar to the rules of athletic basket,ball.

2. A parlor basketball game comprising a rectangular playing board ofdimensions in relative proportions to the standard playing floor of anathletic basket ball court, said playing board being provided 'ith asurrounding guard frame fixedly mounted thereon, and so positioned so asto provide an open space between the edge of the playing board andframe, a small backboard with basketbasket ring,

ring attached thereto fixedly mounted at each end of the playing board,and on the long centerline thereof, series of playing holes formedthrough the playing board and positioned thereon to represent preferredpositions at each end of the board of the right and left forwards of theplayer, and the right and left guard of the opponent, and a free throwhole in front of each also a center hole in the center of the board anda right and left center hole placed each side thereof, a rubber playingball which will engage any of the playing holes and open space aroundthe board but not pass therethrough, yet will pass freely through thebasket rings, and rules to govorn the game similar to the rules ofathletic basket ball.

3. A parlor basket ball game, comprising a rectangular playing board ofdimensions in proportion to the standard athletic basket ball court,said playing board having guard frame mounted around the outer edgesthereof and in such a manner as to provide a narrow open space aroundthe playing board for receiving and retaining a playing ball therein, aminiature backboard with a basket ringattached thereto fixedly mountedat each end of said playing board along the long center line thereof,series of playing holes cut through said board, said holes beingpositioned with one hole in the center of the board with a right and aleft center hole placed each side of the center hole and along the shortcenterline of said board, a neutral free throw hole placed at each endof said board, on the long centerline thereof and directly in front ofeach basket ring, a right and a left guard hole at each end of saidboard placed symmetri cally the long centerline and free throw Hole, aright and a left forward hole at each end of said board placedsymmetrically about the long centerline thereof and positioned betweenthe guard holes and the center holes but near the guard holes, a ballfor playing the game, said ball being of a size to be engaged andretained within any of the playing holes or the open side space aroundthe board yet to freely pass through the basket rings, and rules forplaying the game similar to rules governing the athletic basket ballame.

b u a In witness whereof I sign these specifications.

EDXVARD A. CLARK.

